Body-brace.



Patented Dec I8, |900.

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BODY-BRACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,250, dated December18, 1900.

Application filed June 4, 1900. Serial No. 19,061. (No model.)

.T0 all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, SAMUEL N. FITZPATRICK, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Carthage, in the county of Smith and State ofTennessee, have invented a new and useful Body-Brace, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a body-brace; and the particular intent andpurpose of the same is to provide simple and effective means for bracingthe vertebral column or the back adjacent thereto, and especially abovethe lumbar region at a point usually termed the small of the back orbase of the spine, and which will always be retained inplace'irrespective of bodily movement or muscular exertion and held upby devices engaging theshoulders, and also having one or moretransversely-extending body embracing and supporting devices, to aportion of which may be attached general abdominal, hernial, and pelvicpressure attachments, testicle-supports, suspensors, catamenial sacks,and bandages, and to the main bracing means at the back to also securekidney or other pads and also to magnetize any portion of or all thecombined bracing devices.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of theseveral parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the drawings, Figure lis an elevation of a portion of the human body,showing the position and mode of applying the main portion of the braceto the back. Fig. 2 is asimilar view looking toward the front of thebody. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l with additions to the brace.Fig. 4 is a front view of the device as arranged in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is anedge elevation of the improved brace in its simplest form. Fig. 6 is asection Von the line 6 6, Fig. l.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts inthe several views. v

The numeral l designates the main element of the improved device andwhich is a vertebral brace disposed vertically when applied and composedof a pair of band-springs 2, spaced apart from each other and inclosedin a fabric covering 3, with an intermediate iiexible connecting-web 4,which rests directly over the vertebral column and permits freedom ofmovement of the said springs to compensate for bodily or muscularactions or contortions. This element extends from the lumbar region to apoint about midway of the shoulders at the back and, as clearly shown byFig. 5, is curved to conform to the contour of the portion of the backover which it is applied, and near its lower extremity the said elementis formed with an inward depression 5, which snugly ts in the small ofthe back and serves as a fulcru rn for` the movement of the Yremainingportion of said element and also to concentrate the force of the bracingaction of the entire device on a part of the human body which firstbecomes weakened or affected by strain or exertion. There are a varietyof means for holding the said element in place and have it contribute tothe support of an adjacent portion of the body, 'as well as renderedmore effective itself by the addition of the holding devices, and insome instances it is proposed to separate the springs 2 a greaterdistance than that shown for attachment of counter retention means toacquire a bracing action in lateral directions and particularly aroundthe shoulders. These changes will be made to render the device generallyuseful in strengthening weak bodyportions and Will be mere matters ofdegree fully included in the scope of the invention. The simplest andmost eifective means for sustaining the element l and causing it tocontribute to the support or bracing action of another part of the bodyis that shown by Figs. l, 2, and 5, and consists in connecting rearsusponder-ends 6 to the upper extremity thereof for securement totrousers at the rear in the ordinary manner. To the upper end of thesaid element are secured the rear ends of elastic webs or straps 7,which are adjustable and looped to pass over and around the shoulders tothereby form counterbraces to strengthen said parts and also maintainthe element in central position or prevent it becoming inisplaced in alateral direction. The extremity of each web or strap 7 opposite thatsecured to the upper end of the element is provided with a bifurcatedconnector 8, having its terminals attached to the edge of the element,the connectors exerting an equal pull on the latter at diametricallyopposite points. When IOO the suspender-ends 6 are attached to thetrousers and the counter-braces applied over and under the shoulders, asexplained, a strong reinforce for the back is provided, andtheresiliency of the said element affects the counterbraces and tends todraw the shoulders back and fortiiies the upper side body portions underthe arms. 'lo the lower portion of the element l a lower springbody-band Si is centrally secured and extendsaround the body just abovethe hips and in its simplestform has its front free ends connected bystraps 9, one of the latter carrying a buckle for adjustable purposes.To the front portion of this body-band catamenial sacks or bandages,suspensors, or other testicle-supporters and pelvic pressureorsupporting devices are adapted to be attached and be thereby sustainedin position, and, as shown by Fig. 4, the ends of the said band are alsosupplied at times with hernial pressure-pads 10. The facility with whichthe various attachments enumerated can be held by the body-band 8a willbe obviously apparent, and other umbilical or abdominal devices can beused also in connection therewith, and under all circumstances thebeneficial effect of the bracing action of the element 1 will render theoperation of the several attachments more positive and brings thesupport to bear on the shoulders. In connection with this preferred formof the device it is also proposed to use corset-sections, which will beattached to the opposite edges of the element 1 and attached at thefront, as usual, and the webs or straps will be attached to the upperfront edge portions of the said sections with obvious advantages.Numerous other devices of this latter character could and will beattached to the elelnent 1 without departing in the least from thespirit of the invention and by using the element 1 as a common featureto all.

In Figs. 3 and 4 the improved device is shown in modified form, and inthis instance webs or straps 11 are attached to the upper end of theelement 1 and continued over the shoulders in regular suspender form andhave front securing ends 12 adjustably connected thereto for attachmentto the front portions of trousers in the ordinary manner. Thecounterbraces (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) are replaced by equivalent meansin the form of an upperspring body-band 13, extending around under thearms, with the front free ends resting on opposite sides of the chest.Below the said band 13 and parallel. therewith isasimilar intermediatespring body-band 14, and above the lower band 8 is a shorter abdominalband 15, which will materialy assist the band 8 in its operation, thetwo lower bands conjointly operating to strengthen the abdomen andrender the treatment of hernia effectual and also brace the bowels,particularly in cases of extreme rotundity or where a muscular defect ispresent. These bodybands also assist the element 1 in strengthening weakor deformed backs and will be exceptionally beneficial in cases ofspinal curvatu re or abnormal developments. The lower body-bands willalso be highly eicient in the treatment of female weaknesses-such asprolapsus uteri, umbilical rupture, and the likeand while pregnant willafford exceptional advantages in supporting the abdomen nnder strain ofthe fetus. rlhe upper bodybands will also brace a weakened rib oraniutercostal weakness without in thc least interfering with the action ofthe respiratory organism and the necessary exure for this purpose.

In some instances it is also proposed to attach a pad 16 to the lower orother portion of the element 1, and, as shown, the said pad bearsagainst the back in the region of the kidneys, and it is also intendedto magnetize this pad or any other part of the complete device that maybe desired or to apply absorbent devices carrying medicaments forspecial exterior treatments.

The improved device is applicable to either males or females, and asidefrom the incidental features mentioned and the advantages accruingtherefrom the salient feature is the back-supporting function of theelement 1, which affords a brace at a point that first becomes impairedor weakened, particularly in persons who are required to stand erect forlong successive periods of time, and, secondarily, to have body-bands,either single or plural, conjunctively operate therewith in aninterdependent relation. The main suspension in all the forms is fromthe shoulders of the wearer, and misplacement from a central position ofthe element 1 is impossible, yet the ordinary free movements of the bodyare not in the least obstructed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In adevice ofthe character set forth, the combination of a back-engagingmember having a resilient action and consisting of two similarly-curvedband-springs inclosed in a covering with a space between the inner edges thereof filled by a connecting-web extending their full length,means at the upper portion of the member for exerting a downward pullthereon, and retention devices extending over and under the shoulders ofthe body of the wearer.

2. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of aback-engaging member consisting of a pair of separated resilient devicescompletely inclosed and having an intermediate connecting-web the fulllength thereof to rest over the spine of the wearer, means connected tothe upper portion of the member to extend over and under the shouldersof the body of the wearer, and one or more body bands extendinglaterally from the member below the said means and having a resilientaction.

3. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of aback-engaging member consisting of com pletely-inclosed resilientdevices IOO IIO

ing a resilient action and consisting of a pair of curved band-springsinolosed in a covering and connected by an intermediate web eX- tendingfull length between the band-springs.

to rest over the spine of the wearer,and means for holding the saidelement in position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my 'own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL N. FITZPATRICK.

Witnesses:

E. E. CoYLE, HARRY H. HOLLANDER.

